Given the key geostrategic challenges, emanating from the threat of two-front war we require the Modernization of Indian Armed Forces (against China and Pakistan combinedly), India faces complex threats and challenges spanning the full spectrum of conflict from nuclear to sub-conventional.
Prime Minister of India addressed a webinar on the effective implementation of the Union Budget’s provisions in the defence sector.
The Prime minister listed a series of measures taken by the government to boost self-reliance in the defence sector and regret the fact that the country is amongst the biggest defence importers in the world.
PM urged the private sector to come forward and take up both the designing and manufacturing of defence equipment.
A total amount of Rs 4.78 lakh crore has been earmarked for the Ministry of Defence in the Budget, with a nearly 19% increase in capital outlay. A share of the budget has been reserved for domestic procurement.
What is the Current Status of India’s defence sector?
- India is the second-largest importer in defence procurement in the world after Saudi Arabia.
- Airforce: India is gradually moving toward indigenisation in the defence sector, it is only now that India has got its own indigenous aircraft, Tejas.
- India is lagging behind in manufacturing its own engines, avionics and self-sufficient radars.
- Army: India has made a great breakthrough in terms of artillery guns but the technological edge required to modernise its equipment has not been touched yet.
- Navy: The Navy has very serious capability gaps; as per the Maritime Capability Perspective Plan by 2027, India ought to have about 200 ships but there is still a lot to cover to reach the target.
Modernization of Indian Armed Forces can be done
- Modernization of the defence Forces is a complex process, which includes cardinal changes in the material capacities in order to accomplish all the strategic objectives.
- The Forces aim at increasing the qualitative levels through their transformation into a professional force, well-trained, equipped with contemporary systems of the technique and armament, modern and interoperable tools as well as capable of accomplishing the operation of a larger spectrum.
The Modernization of Indian Armed Forces is focused on several important areas
- Command and Control System.
- System of information, including the systems of the surveillance of the air and maritime space, as well as the security of the systems of other intelligence equipment.
- Systems and equipment for the protection of the troops.
Challenges Associated with the Modernization of Indian Armed Forces
- The entire acquisition process of India is very slow and the time taken from planning to acquire defence equipment to actually executing the thought is a quite long procedure.
- The public defence manufacturing sector has really not been able to deliver the way it was mandated to which is why the involvement of the private sector should be encouraged.
- India lacks a proper industrial base for the manufacturing of defence equipment. However, two defence zones have been set up in Tamil Nadu and in Uttar Pradesh which will provide the private sector with a base to operate upon.
Initiatives are taken by govt to the Modernization of Indian Armed Forces
- The Defence Ministry has decided to earmark around 64% of its modernisation funds under the capital acquisition budget for 2021-22, for purchases from the domestic sector. Last year it was 58%.
- It will have a positive impact on enhanced domestic procurement, having a multiplier effect on the industries including MSMEs and start-ups. It would also increase employment in the defence sector. Hence, it is a welcome step towards encouraging Atmanirbhar Bharat goals.
- The ‘negative import list’ has been prepared by the government containing items that India seeks to stop buying from other countries thus encouraging self-reliant India.
- The government has taken initiatives like de-licensing, deregulation, export promotion, encouraging FDI, etc to liberalise the defence industry.
Exam Approach
- India is among the biggest importer of armed weapons, it should focus on exporting its indigenous weapons.
- The scientific community and private players should come together to play an important role in producing quality weapons in India.
- Public sector undertakings need to be boosted and should give the specific task to fulfil the desire of all three services.
- There is a need to invest in the defence economy. If India modernises its defence sector and reduces the defence imports, it can increase its GDP by 2-3% and create lakhs of jobs. It is a win-win situation and economically profitable.
- Indian navy needs to be modernised because this is the time for a blue economy and maritime security.
- Hence, India is a major power and an emerging economy in the world. Its defence should be well equipped.
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